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txschutte
03-03-2012, 04:39 PM
Okay, my buddy and team member, is totally hooked on BBQ. He started last year at a local non-sanctioned comp with me. His birthday is in May, and his wife asked me to help her out with getting him set up with everything he basically needs to start cooking at home.

So, I am building him a decent double racked UDS. His wife is buying him a Weber chimney starter, a Maverick ET-73, a bag of Comp K, and some rubs, along with a pork butt.

I now have so much equipment of my own, I have lost sight of "essential" bbq tools. Can anyone add to the list?

JMSetzler
03-03-2012, 04:45 PM
Ummm..

A pair of the inexpensive PVC gloves from your local hardware store
A bottle opener to mount on the side of the drum
A 4 or 5 ft folding table to use as a prep table
A nice apron (the new red weber apron looks pretty nice)
A grill brush
A box of weber starter cubes
A Marty Leach custom handle!
A PartyQ or some other temp controller (not essential but nice!)
A suitable cooler for resting meat
A big industrial roll of aluminum foil
A vacuum sealer
Vaccum sealer bags

Just to name a few 'gift' items that aren't all terribly expensive....

mmmmeat
03-03-2012, 04:46 PM
Gloves...both prep and the big thick ones like simply marvelous sells, they are soooooooooooooooooo handy!

Posted from my fancy android fone!!

pinkelephant
03-03-2012, 05:08 PM
weber oven mitts
oversized channel locks
small shovel
thermopen (a must for a UDS)
a mega roll of foil from Sam's
some large trays (chaffer trays) for slicin and servin.
medium sized cooler for cambro (with towels)
sandwich gloves
leather work gloves
a way to pick up a 25 lb turkey without dumping boiling oil on yourself
12" cast iron skillet with lid and a handle mitt
beer

txschutte
03-03-2012, 05:18 PM
beer

Taking note of this.:thumb:

Trumanj
03-03-2012, 05:21 PM
I'd talk his wife into upgrading the maverick 73 to the 732. Its $20 more but trust me its much better and he'll wish he would have done it.

bbqchicken
03-03-2012, 05:25 PM
Beer!!!

LoneStar Smoke Rangers
03-03-2012, 05:38 PM
Beer!!!
+1 :clap2:

txschutte
03-03-2012, 05:50 PM
I'd talk his wife into upgrading the maverick 73 to the 732. Its $20 more but trust me its much better and he'll wish he would have done it.

Noted, and agreed. Thanks.

Bonewagon
03-03-2012, 05:52 PM
Subscription to the Brethren. :becky:

txschutte
03-03-2012, 05:53 PM
Subscription to the Brethren. :becky:

Funny you should say that, but that was one of the things I was gonna give him.:thumb:

zydecopaws
03-03-2012, 06:34 PM
Tongs. You gotta have a good set or two of tongs.

didisea
03-03-2012, 06:56 PM
Super Fast Thermapen!
1/2 size foil pans by the gross
Cement mat or one of the oil pan tray thingies for under the UDS (in case he is cookin on a deck)
Weed burner

Gore
03-03-2012, 06:58 PM
Oxo tongs and a pair of cheap leather yard gloves. That's all I use 90% of the time.

bbqbull
03-03-2012, 07:48 PM
A thermopen is an essential tool to me.
Also a led head lamp for those after dark cooks.

landarc
03-03-2012, 08:05 PM
What I have out there...

A charcoal starter
1. refillable long nose lighter
2. cheap tongs
3. pair of welding gloves
4. cheap instant read thermometer
5. an old a.c. paving depth checker, which I use to shake the charcoal basket and set the Weber vents
6. a large plastic tub, two would be nice, I have one. For moving meats around

tish
03-03-2012, 09:25 PM
+1 on the head lamp. I struggled like crazy when my cooks ran long, and I had to juggle stuff in the dark while trying to hold the flashlight at the same time. Got the head lamp now, and made all the difference in the world. :thumb:

Both welder's gloves and neoprene
cheap disposable pans
instant read thermometer
apron (my next purchase -- I'm ruining all my shirts!!)
tongs
Brethren membership

Harbormaster
03-03-2012, 09:39 PM
Going outside the box for you Shane.

Tables. The white folding kind.
Swing arm drafting lamp. (Lifesaver for doing turn in boxes)
Good extesion cords, power strips, and clip on lamps.
A Zero Gravity Chair.

gtr
03-03-2012, 11:24 PM
I really love these rotisserie gloves I got at RD. Great for handling really hot stuff.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31i4bIrkroL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

The ones Steph sells are great for pulling pork and handling food - also good with hot stuff. :thumb:

JMSetzler
03-04-2012, 01:06 AM
One more thing... I'm not sure what I'd do without my worlds most badestass iPod dock!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3402440/pics/blog/Misc/ipoddock.jpg

frohe
03-04-2012, 05:21 AM
Okay, my buddy and team member, is totally hooked on BBQ. He started last year at a local non-sanctioned comp with me. His birthday is in May, and his wife asked me to help her out with getting him set up with everything he basically needs to start cooking at home. So, I am building him a decent double racked UDS. His wife is buying him a Weber chimney starter, a Maverick ET-73, a bag of Comp K, and some rubs, along with a pork butt. I now have so much equipment of my own, I have lost sight of "essential" bbq tools. Can anyone add to the list?

Well, I don't think I'd call these "essentials" but still they're nice to have...

* 3 drawer cart to store all his Q stuff in. Gotta be on casters so you can roll it out of the way when not in use. Nice to have everything handy but not cluttering things up around the cooker
* a good sauce mop
* several spice shakers for all his dry rubs, etc.
* a great comfy chair to sit in while waiting on the Q to cook, sipping beers and generally watching the world go by.
* an MP3 player with all his favorite tunes so he can tap his foot while he's cooking.
* an outdoor beer fridge stocked with his favorite brew for those long cook days. :icon_blush:

nucornhusker
03-04-2012, 09:29 AM
Paint the drum either Husker red or Haymaker red. Whichever he prefers. :becky:

ibait2fish
03-04-2012, 10:52 AM
Bear claws for handling/shredding meat.

BigBellyBBQ
03-04-2012, 11:00 AM
heck if she wants to really set him up, having a comp trailer is the way to go! But if she skirms at the price tag...then settle for the beer idea...

BDAABAT
03-04-2012, 02:56 PM
Perhaps some Brethren produced rubs would be good (or Simply Marvelous!)!

Bruce

Durzil
03-04-2012, 06:33 PM
I have a "BBQ bag" containing my "Required" gear:

ET-732 wireless thermometer
Instant read thermometer (I have ThermoWorks RT600C-N, but Thermapen has a cult following if you have the coin)
Welding gloves
PVC gloves from Simply Marvelous along with:
Simply Marvelous Rubs! Sweet & Spicy and Sweet Seduction are my 2 favorites
Headlamp
Tongs
Sauce brush

Things used every cook to consider:

Weber chimney
Smoker cover
Wood chunks
Ash can?

Other useful items:

Cooler with towels
Aluminum pans
Aluminum foil
Veggie pan (slotted hole pan)
Bear paws

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Best of luck and your a great friend for helping him like this.

Ground Pounder
03-04-2012, 07:41 PM
The five backyard BBQ essentials I could not live without (shouldn't be a problem to find these at your local homegoods store):

1) Comfy lawn chair, preferably with some type of sun umbrella or shade.

2) Transistor radio, for ballgames - my favorite BBQ "white-noise".

3) Set of Horse Shoes and stakes, to pass the time.

4) Kettle grill, for cookin' while you cook.

5) My dog, because everyone knows 'Q'in is better with your dog (okay, so maybe you'd have to go to a pet store for this one...)

Harbormaster
03-05-2012, 04:29 PM
Thought of another thing:

Bus tubs. Great for rubbing meat or doing dishes.

OKinVA
03-05-2012, 04:52 PM
Homebrew equipment. Nothing to wash down some great homemade Q like some great homemade beer.

Agree with the sturdy gloves, tongs and tunes